North Andover has weekend of giving

People in North Andover take pride in the amount of volunteers and fundraising efforts their town has.

And this past weekend, North Andover had that on display.

On Thursday, the North Andover Women’s Club hosted its second annual Shop ‘til You Drop event at the Stevens Estate.

More than 60 vendors were there, including Good Day Café, which was selling food for the event.

On Saturday, the North Andover Merchants Association held its Sports Scholarship fundraiser to raise money for kids to participate in after-school sports.

Final numbers aren’t in for that event, but Tracy Watson, founding NAMA member who helped organize the fundraiser, said initial tallies have it at around $7,000 and it could be almost $10,000 when factoring sales from open to close. The Boston Bruins Foundation's Bob Sweeney was there to give $5,000 from that organization.

"This year’s event was such fun!" Watson said. "The committee and I are so grateful to everyone who came out supported and generously donated. It was a great merging of people from The NAPD, local artists and musicians, businesses and residents having a good time and supporting a great cause. Events like this keep the fund healthy and ready for use by the kids and families that need it. We’re very grateful to all who played a role in Saturday night’s success."

Then on Sunday, Taki’s Pizza held an all-day fundraiser to help fight multiple sclerosis.

This was our 12th annual fundraiser for the National MS Society," Taki’s owner Jim Xenakis said. Xenakis’s sister, Ginny Xenakis Perron, organizes the event every year. She has MS and has been very active in efforts to help the MS Society.

Half of all sales from pizza and calzones went to the MS Society. This year’s Taki’s MS fundraiser raised around $3,200.

"Every year we do this fundraiser at Taki’s, and it keeps getting bigger and better and more successful, in terms of what we’re able to raise to help the cause," Xenakis said.